NYC ranks in 'Top 5 worst mosquito cities' in the U.S., new list shows
Female Aedes aegypti mosquito feeding on a human hand, engorged with blood, 2006. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / James Gathany. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - New York City is once again among the worst places in the country for mosquitoes, ranking in the Top 5 in a new national report.
What we know:
New York ranked No. 3 on Orkin’s 2026 Mosquito Cities List, placing it among the worst cities in the U.S. for mosquito activity.
Los Angeles held the top spot for the sixth straight year, followed by Chicago.
The rankings are based on the number of residential mosquito treatments performed by Orkin between March 2025 and March 2026.
Big picture view:
Experts say mosquito activity is no longer concentrated in just one region of the country.
"Over the past decade, we’ve seen mosquito activity expand beyond traditional hotspots and become a nationwide concern," said Shannon Sked, Orkin entomologist.
Cities across the Midwest and other regions are seeing growing mosquito pressure, driven in part by shifting climate conditions and the spread of species like the yellow fever mosquito.
The worst mosquito cities in the U.S.
Here are the top 20 cities on Orkin’s 2026 Mosquito Cities List:
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- New York
- Detroit
- Atlanta
- Washington, D.C.
- Houston
- Dallas
- Cleveland
- Denver
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Charlotte, N.C.
- Minneapolis
- Philadelphia
- Indianapolis
- Tampa, Fla.
- Miami
- San Francisco
- Orlando, Fla.
- Columbus, Ohio
Why you should care:
Mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animal in the world, responsible for more than 600,000 malaria-related deaths each year, according to the CDC.
In the U.S., they can spread diseases including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis and Zika.
What you can do:
Orkin recommends following the "BITE" method to reduce risk:
- Block skin with long sleeves and repellents
- Install tight-fitting screens
- Trim vegetation
- Eliminate standing water
What's next:
Mosquito activity is expected to increase through the summer months as peak season begins.
The Source: This article was written using information from an Orkin press release.